On Mon, 5 May 2003, Jeffrey Earl wrote:

> I recently ordered that rubber hose (kind of an
> angled, oval-profiled affair) from a mechanic, with an
> estimated price of $37. Admittedly a ridiculous price
> for a hunk o' rubber hose, but I could try and get an
> extra one for you, if you can find no other source.

My guess is I can probably order it from the dealer for a similar price.
I need to find the elbow/water seperator first, though, so I have
something to connect it to. ;)  I'm afraid to ask the dealer how much
*that* part would cost...

> Would appreciate comments and solutions from other
> idiots who have stood out in the driveway, staring
> intently at the side of their Vanagon during
> torrential downpours.

When I had my '75 bus, I was tempted to make cowl plugs (like are used on
aircraft parked outside) for the rear vents, after noticing the tendancy
for snow to form drifts in the engine bay.  Never actually did it, though.
It was worse on the '75 than on my '82 because the battery was directly
under one of those vents.  One day a big wad of slush slid off the roof
and into the vent and landed splat on top of the battery, draining it
dead.

My shelves look like they have rubber plugs in the center, or something,
though I haven't looked close.  I suppose you could pull those out, but
that might just encourage the rust.  At least the clean rainwater might
wash away some of the salty crud that ends up in there during the winter.
;)

David Brodbeck, N8SRE
'82 Diesel Westfalia
'94 Honda Civic Si